Combine everyone’s favorite ogre and donkey duo with an original musical score and you get the family fun-filled Shrek the Musical. The Broadway production brings its unique blend of humor to San Diego’s Civic Theatre from July 5-10.
Similar to the 2001 film, the stage version tells the story of how Shrek meets Fiona and saves the kingdom. But there’s much more to the story than the original 90-minute movie could share and the musical delves further into the book by William Steig.
“We have an extra hour where we add some back story about why Princess Fiona is in a tower and why Shrek is in the swamp and why Lord Farquaad is short,” said David Vaughn, who plays villainous Lord Farquaad. “We take these characters you know and love and give them a back story.”
The stage production also includes an almost entirely original musical score, written by Tony-award nominated composer Jeanine Tesori. While “I’m a Believer” from the film is included, the other 19 songs, which have a pop-R&B vibe, are new.
While some of the content is new, the tone of the musical closely follows the original film. The addition of pop culture references to the typical fairy tale story creates an entertaining and hilarious show that both adults and children can enjoy together.
“It really is a family-friendly musical,” said Vaughn. “The kids are laughing right alongside the adults but for completely different reasons. There are some sex jokes and some political things that fly right over the kids’ heads that the adults love and there’s Donkey being silly and fart jokes that the kids are laughing at.”
Shrek the Musical premiered on Broadway on Dec. 14, 2008. After its 14-month run closed, the production began touring the country in July 2010. San Diego is the second-to-last stop before the tour wraps in Los Angeles.
Vaughn understudied the vertically challenged Lord Farquaad on Broadway before starring as the villain on the national tour.
“Any actor will tell you that playing the villain is always the best because you can get away with anything,” Vaughn said. “We play Farquaad a little differently than the movie. We make him a little brattier, a little showier, a little sillier … and the fact that I play him on my knees, the audience thinks is hilarious.”
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit shrekthemusical.com.
